1 62 Salmon Fishing. 



I happened to stumble suddenly on a very 

 aged piscator seated on the ground, and most 

 intently watching his float, with an evident 

 disinclination to take his eyes off it even, when 

 he answered my salutation to him. The spot 

 selected by him was close to the conflux of 

 the Worm and Dore, where, it was said, some 

 good Perch usually resorted. I spoke kindly 

 to the old man, and wished him good sport, 

 without at all reminding him that the water 

 was preserved, and open only to members of 

 the Club. Late in the evening I strolled home 

 by the same place, with a basket pretty full 

 of heavy fish which I had killed with a May-fly 

 in the deep water above. In the very spot sat 

 the same old man, as intent as ever on his float. 

 " Well, old boy," I said to him, " I hope you 

 have had good sport." " Not a nib all day," was 

 the curt answer that came from him. And yet 

 from morning to night was his mind sufficiently 

 diverted, to keep him from regarding the hours 

 upon hours he sat silent and solitary, as heavy 



